Views
of Old Barnsley
309
Pen and ink drawings of Barnsley’s old buildings and places by Kenneth Leslie
Graham, 1932
In 1932, Kenneth Leslie Graham published in the Barnsley Chronicle a series
of 46 pen and ink sketches depicting pictorially interesting buildings, inns and
yards and scenes that could still be seen in around Barnsley and district in the
early 1930s. In so doing he captured for future generations many buildings of
character and interesting features of Barnsley that were to disappear by the early
1970s. The following drawings are shown here courtesy of Barnsley MBC Arts,
Museums and Archives Service, Experience Barnsley Collection.
Passage, no. 3 Queen Street
Eli Hoyle, in his book, History of Barnsley, states that the bow-window seen
on the left of the sketch was part of the front bar of an old inn, The Old Lord
Nelson. At one time Graham writes, there lived in this yard one Old Rushy, or
Rushforth, the only ‘teeth extractor’ in Barnsley. He was a boot and shoe maker
by trade and used a pair of trade pincers to extract teeth!
Temple Yard
Market Hill
Graham writes that the yard used to be the entrance to the Temple Inn when
‘Graham’s Orchard’ was an orchard. The original name given to the public
house was The Temple of the Muses by the landlord in 1807. After he died it
was shortened to The Temple Inn.
Stores Inn and Tithe Barn
Shambles Street
The original inn dated from around the 16th century. Graham writes that the
collection of buildings was known as ‘Cutler’s House’, from when a certain
Henry Cutler took ownership in 1706. At the rear of these buildings, between
Shambles Street and Westgate, was formerly a malt kiln and barns called tithe
barns. The tithe barn seen in the distance of the picture was the last surviving
barn and had a very fine medieval timbered roof and frame, but was dismantled
310
Passage, no. 3 Queen Street
the hidden artists of barnsley
Temple Yard, Market Hill
in 1968. Tithe barns were used to receive and store tithes, which were a 10th
of tenant farmers’ and labourers’ annual produce. This ancient system was used
to provide for the local church and Rector and the support of the poor of the
parish.
The Old Globe Inn
Shambles Street
Situated in Shambles Street, one of the oldest streets in Barnsley and formerly
known as Westgate, it was the main west road out of Barnsley. As far back as
1777, Graham writes, it was chiefly known as a restaurant where at Christmas
time a large goose or pork pie would be seen.
Pinfold Hill
Shambles Street
At the top of the steps can be seen Westgate Chapel, which opened in 1794 after
the new Methodist congregation worked and raised the funds in three years!
views of old barnsley
Stores Inn and Tithe Barn, Shambles Street
311
The Old Globe Inn, Shambles Street
The building on the right at the top was a linen factory, producing linen which
was renowned across the country. Horse-drawn wagons collected the linen and
transported it a short distance to Greenfoot where it was bleached by being laid
in strips across the grasslands. Near the top stood the pinfold where stray horses,
cattle and other farm livestock were impounded.
Surrey Yard
Shambles Street
One of the many old inns situated in Shambles Street. Kenneth Graham writes:
“A stone over the passage at the Shambles Street end bears faintly the inscription,
‘M.P. 1708’ but this gable may be even more ancient.” Barnsley residents of
‘social standing’ lived in some inn yards. In Surrey Yard, Graham tells us, at one
time lived a former Managing Director of Redfearn’s Glass Works and a former
Deputy Chief of the West Riding Police.
312
the hidden artists of barnsley
far left
Pinfold Hill, Shambles Street
left
Surrey Yard, Shambles Street
left
Windmill Inn, Shambles Street
views of old barnsley
313
Windmill Inn
Shambles Street
Graham writes that this inn was a favourite place for customers who enjoyed
lively and loquacious company from the early 19th century. In those days the
Rev. Mence, the Rector of St Mary’s Church, could be found, smoking his clay
pipe and joining in the gossip of the day.
Barnsley Market (May Day Green)
The bustle, colour, noise and the ‘characters’ that could be encountered, either
as traders, or customers, helped to make a visit to Barnsley Market a highly
entertaining experience. Stalls abounded, selling all manner of things, which
created a popular saying:“Tha can buy owt on Barnsley Market.”A Charter to hold
a market in Barnsley was first granted to the Prior of the Convent of St John the
Evangelist, Pontefract in 1249 by Henry III. Around 1938, a Barnsley Town Guide
stated that around 600 traders and at least 100 butchers were trading with around
50,000 visitors each week; which possibly made Barnsley Market, (including all
the market sites in the town), the largest open-air market in Yorkshire.
Demolition/Manor House
Church Street
In this drawing Graham shows the demolition of the ‘Manor House’, which
made way for the Mining and Technical College on Church Street. The small
inset sketch was made from Church Street, (the site where the new Town Hall
was to be built later in 1936) and shows Lancaster’s Yard with Royal Street seen
through the arch.
Cock Inn Yard
Shambles Street
This very old inn was situated near the corner of Shambles Street and Church
Street, at the top of Market Hill. It was a favourite place of market traders and
to meet friends; a place for socialising and making deals. Graham’s drawing is
of a really quaint inn; a place he shows with a rich atmosphere. Graham shows
some of the building’s original beams. The passage, just visible in the drawing,
is where a butcher’s shop stood, the last of many crowded into this end of
Shambles Street. On the extreme left of the drawing is a door that led to a room
that was hired as the first Roman Catholic Church in Barnsley and district after
the Reformation.
Old White Bear Yard
Shambles Street
The Barnsley Races, which began in 1717, held the Race Dinner in this inn.
Later in 1786, John Wesley, after lunch and at the age of 83, preached in this yard
from the steps of one of the outbuildings. He wrote in his Journal – “Friday,
June 30th, 1786 – I turned aside to Barnsley, formerly famous for all manner of
314
the hidden artists of barnsley
Barnsley Market (May Day Green)
below
Demolition/Manor House, Church Street
views of old barnsley
Cock Inn Yard, Shambles Street
below
Old White Bear Yard, Shambles Street
315
316
the hidden artists of barnsley
Bateman’s Yard, Shambles Street
wickedness. They were then ready to tear any Methodist to pieces. Now not a
dog wagged his tongue. They seemed to drink in every word.” Afterwards, he
travelled to Rotherham and preached again in the evening!
Bateman’s Yard
Shambles Street
This yard led to where John Wilson, a linen manufacturer lived. His linen
warehouse is recorded in 1777 as being situated in this yard. The building at
the top of the yard was identified as being Jacobean with its oak framework and
rubble and plaster filling.
views of old barnsley
317
Typical Handloom Weaver’s Cottage
Typical Handloom Weaver’s Cottage
In 1744 William Wilson of Cheshire introduced linen manufacture to Barnsley.
Around 1850 it was estimated there were around 4,000 handlooms in Barnsley.
The quality of the linen produced by the handloom weavers and in the linen mills
around the town helped to make Barnsley both prosperous and famous into the
20th century. A weaver’s cottage could be identified by the basement windows,
sometimes called ‘lights’. These cellars’ lights brought illumination into the damp
cellars where the weavers’ worked at their looms. After the industry declined in
the 1920s these lights were blocked up and eventually the cottages ceased to be
lived in and were cleared when town improvements were introduced.
Across to Holy Rood from Wellington Street
Graham, in this drawing, with Holy Rood Church looming up out of its
surroundings gives the impression of a Continental town. To the right of Holy
Rood Church can be seen the original St George’s Church. In the middle
distance is Castlereagh Street and in the immediate foreground is Wortley Street.
The writer George Orwell wrote about the terrible living conditions of the
families who lived in Wortley Street, Barnsley, in the mid 1930s, in his book The
Road to Wigan Pier. Graham included the caravans and the activities around them
to give the drawing an “illusion of distance and quaintness”.
St Mary’s Church (from Eastgate)
This is a study of St Mary’s Church in spring viewed from Eastgate. The church
tower dates from the 14th century, but the rest of the church dates from 1820.
© Fred Thompson for Barnsley Art on Your Doorstep 2015
318
Across to Holy Rood from Wellington Street
the hidden artists of barnsley
St Mary’s Church (from Eastgate)